Video game with bounded region capture and ownership value swap

ABSTRACT

A control program for a game device having a storage unit configured to store points associated with players. The game device may receive a request by a player to designate at least a portion of the points associated with the first player as region points of the first player, which may in turn be correlated with a game region designated by the first player. When the first player has the most points for a particular game region, the game region may be set to be a region of the first player. When the first player disposes a first and second game region in a predetermined arrangement, such that the first and second game region has game regions between them, the game regions between the first and second game region may have their point values swapped to put the first player on top.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/251,169, filed on Jan. 18, 2019, entitled “VIDEO GAME WITH BOUNDEDREGION CAPTURE AND OWNERSHIP VALUE SWAP,” which claims priority fromU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/585,517, now U.S. Pat. No.10,220,320, filed on May 3, 2017, entitled “VIDEO GAME WITH BOUNDEDREGION CAPTURE AND OWNERSHIP VALUE SWAP” which in turn claims priorityfrom Japanese Patent No. JP6105132B1, filed on Jun. 30, 2016, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a control program, a control method,and a game device.

BACKGROUND ART

A domination game in which a plurality of players respectively occupiesa plurality of territories included in a game field and deprives aterritory of other players is known. In such a domination game, a gamein which a player correlates the owned point (which may be virtualcurrency and the like) or the owned character, with a territory, and theplayer competes with another player for the territory, in accordancewith the amount of points or the strength of the character correlatedwith the territory may be performed.

For example, JP-A-2014-73164 discloses a game program for realizing adomination game in which a competition may be executed between playerswho respectively own territories, and the territory owned by the playerlosing in the competition may be ceded to the player winning in thecompetition.

SUMMARY

However, in the domination game of the related art, it may be determinedwhether or not the territory of a player can be acquired, based on theamount of owned points, the strength of the owned character of theplayer, and the like. Thus, it may not be possible for a player toprogress the game by using a strategy. In addition, a player can easilypredict a game result based on the amount of points owned by the player,the strength of the owned character of the player, and the like, whichmay reduce the will of the player to continuously play the game.

To solve the above problem, according to an exemplary embodiment, acontrol program, a control method, and a game device which can realize agame which requires a strategy of a player, which can thereby improvethe player's interest in the game may be provided.

According to an exemplary embodiment, there may be provided a controlprogram of a game device which includes a storage unit and progresses agame by using a game field including a plurality of game regions. Thecontrol program may cause the game device to execute: storing, in thestorage unit, points which are respectively associated with a pluralityof players; correlating at least a portion of the points associated witha first player with a game region designated by the first player amongthe plurality of game regions in accordance with a request of the firstplayer, and designating these correlated points as region points of thefirst player; setting the game region correlated with the region pointsof the first player to be a corresponding region of the first player ina case where the region points of the first player are greater than theregion points of a player different from the first player in the gameregion correlated with the region points of the first player; in a casewhere game regions (between the corresponding region of the firstplayer, which is set, and another corresponding region of the firstplayer, which has been previously set) are disposed in predeterminedarrangement, and all of the game regions disposed in the predeterminedarrangement are corresponding regions of a player different from thefirst player, extracting region points of the first player correlatedwith the game regions disposed in the predetermined arrangement, andregion points of the player who has the game regions as thecorresponding regions;

and correlating the extracted region points of the player, as the regionpoints of the first player, with the game regions disposed in thepredetermined arrangement, and setting the game regions disposed in thepredetermined arrangement, to be corresponding regions of the firstplayer in a case where the region points of the first player are largerthan the region points of the player, which have been correlated withthe game regions, in the game regions disposed in the predeterminedarrangement.

In the control program according to an exemplary embodiment, the gamedevice may cause the extracted region points of the first player to becorrelated, as the region points of the player who has the game regionsas the corresponding regions, with the game regions disposed in thepredetermined arrangement.

In the control program according to an exemplary embodiment, in a casewhere the first player designates a first specific region from theplurality of game regions when the region points are correlated inaccordance with a request of the first player, a predetermined pointvalue and the points correlated as the region points may be consumedfrom the points stored in the storage unit.

In the control program according to an exemplary embodiment, the gamefield may include a restricted region of which designation by a playermay not be possible, and the restricted region may be changed to a gameregion depending on the number of times region points are correlatedaccording to the request of the first player.

In the control program according to an exemplary embodiment, i the gamedevice may be caused to execute a process which may include specifyingcolor information associated with the first player in the correspondingregion of the first player, changing brightness, chroma, or hue of thespecified color information, based on both or any one of the regionpoint of the first player and the region point of another player, whichmay be correlated with the corresponding region of the first player, anddisplaying the corresponding region of the first player with the changedcolor information.

According to another exemplary embodiment, there may be provided acontrol program of a game device which may include a storage unit andmay progress a game by using a game field including a plurality of gameregions. The control program may cause the game device to execute:storing points which may be respectively associated with a plurality ofplayers, in the storage unit; correlating at least a portion of thepoints associated with a first player, as region points of the firstplayer, with a game region designated by the first player among theplurality of game regions in accordance with a request of the firstplayer; setting the game region correlated with the region points of thefirst player to be a corresponding region of a first group, in a casewhere a summation value of region points of players included in thefirst group to which the first player belongs is larger than a summationvalue of region points of players included in a group different from thefirst group, in the game region correlated with the region point of thefirst player; in a case where game regions between the correspondingregion of the first group which may be set, and another correspondingregion of the first group, which has been previously set are disposed ina predetermined arrangement, and all of the game regions disposed in thepredetermined arrangement may be corresponding regions of a second groupdifferent from the first group, extracting region points of the firstgroup correlated with the game regions disposed in the predeterminedarrangement, and region points of the second group who has the gameregions as the corresponding regions; and correlating the extractedregion points of the group, as the region points of the first group,with the game regions disposed in the predetermined arrangement, andsetting the game regions disposed in the predetermined arrangement, tobe corresponding regions of the first group in a case where the regionpoints of the first group are larger than the region points of thesecond group, in the game regions disposed in the predeterminedarrangement.

In the control program according to another exemplary embodiment, thegame device may be caused to execute a process which may includecalculating a summation value of region points correlated by eachplayer, for each of the players included in the first group, and storinga player reward depending on the calculated summation value, in thestorage unit in association with each player; and storing a group rewarddepending on a summation value of region points of the first group,which may be correlated with corresponding regions of the first group,in the storage unit in association with each of the players included inthe first group.

According to still another exemplary embodiment, there may be provided acontrol method of a game device which may include a storage unit and mayprogress a game by using a game field including a plurality of gameregions. The control method may include storing points which may berespectively associated with a plurality of players, in the storageunit; correlating at least a portion of the points associated with afirst player, as region points of the first player, with a game regiondesignated by the first player among the plurality of game regions inaccordance with a request of the first player; setting the game regioncorrelated with the region points of the first player to be acorresponding region of the first player in a case where the regionpoints of the first player are larger than the region points of a playerdifferent from the first player in the game region correlated with theregion points of the first player; in a case where game regions betweenthe corresponding region of the first player which may be set, andanother corresponding region of the first player, which has beenpreviously set are disposed in predetermined arrangement, and all of thegame regions disposed in the predetermined arrangement may becorresponding regions of a player different from the first player,extracting region points of the first player correlated with the gameregions disposed in the predetermined arrangement, and region points ofthe player who has the game regions as the corresponding regions; andcorrelating the extracted region points of the player, as the regionpoints of the first player, with the game regions disposed in thepredetermined arrangement, and setting the game regions disposed in thepredetermined arrangement, to be corresponding regions of the firstplayer in a case where the region points of the first player may belarger than the region points of the player, which have been correlatedwith the game regions, in the game regions disposed in the predeterminedarrangement.

According to still another exemplary embodiment, there may be provided agame device which may progress a game by using a game field including aplurality of game regions. The game device may include a storage unitthat stores points which may be respectively associated with a pluralityof players; a correlation unit that correlates (i.e.links/associates/stores) at least a portion of the points associatedwith a first player, as region points of the first player, with a gameregion designated by the first player among the plurality of gameregions in accordance with a request of the first player; and a settingunit that sets the game region correlated with the region points of thefirst player, to be a corresponding region of the first player in a casewhere the region point of the first player is larger than a region pointof a player different from the first player in the game regioncorrelated with the region point of the first player. In a case wheregame regions between the corresponding region of the first player whichmay be set, and another corresponding region of the first player, whichhas been previously set may be disposed in predetermined arrangement,and all of the game region disposed in the predetermined arrangement maybe corresponding regions of a player different from the first player,the correlation unit may extract region points of the first playercorrelated with the game regions disposed in the predeterminedarrangement, and region points of the player who has the game regions asthe corresponding regions, and may correlate the extracted region pointsof the player, as the region points of the first player, with the gameregions disposed in the predetermined arrangement. The setting unit mayset the game regions disposed in the predetermined arrangement, to becorresponding regions of the first player in a case where the regionpoints of the first player may be larger than the region points of theplayer, which have been correlated with the game regions, in the gameregions disposed in the predetermined arrangement.

According to the control program, the control method, and the gamedevice of the invention, it may be possible to realize a game requiringthe player to exercise a strategy, which may thus improve the player'sinterest in the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of a game providedby a game device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating another example of the game provided bythe game device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configurationof a game system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configurationof a portable terminal.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of a game screendisplayed by the portable terminal.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating another example of the gamescreen displayed by the portable terminal.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating an example of a game screendisplayed by the portable terminal.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating an example of a game screendisplayed by the portable terminal.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating still another example of thegame screen displayed by the portable terminal.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of setting acorresponding region.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the example of setting thecorresponding region.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the example of setting thecorresponding region.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of region-pointchanging processing.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating the example of theregion-point changing processing.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating the example of theregion-point changing processing.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating the example of theregion-point changing processing.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of a server.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams illustrating an example of datastructures of various tables.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams illustrating an example of datastructures of various tables.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence ofthe game system.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow ofgame progress processing.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of agame field.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating another example of the operationsequence of the game system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments will be described withreference to the drawings. It may not beed that the technical range ofthe present invention may not be limited to the exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein, and the exemplary embodiments described in claims andequivalents thereof may be included.

Outline of Game

FIGS. 1A to 2 may be diagrams illustrating an example of a game that maybe provided by a game device. An example of a game provided by a gamedevice according to an embodiment will be described below with referenceto FIGS. 1A to 2.

In an exemplary embodiment, a player may progress a game in which a gameregion may be correlated with a player, by operating the game devicethat displays a game field including a plurality of game regions on adisplay screen, so as to designate the game region. The game region maybe a predetermined closed region which may be displayed on the displayscreen and may be designated by an input of a player. A game object,such as a panel, a card, or a character, may be used instead of the gameregion. The game field may be a game space which may be displayed on thedisplay screen and may be used for disposing a plurality of gameregions. As an example, a domination game in which a plurality ofplayers (player A, player B, and player C) participate, which may be agame progressed by the game device, will be described below.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 2, a game field F including a plurality ofgame regions R may be displayed on the display screen of the gamedevice, and the game device may cause the domination game using thedisplayed game field F to progress. Each of the plurality of playersparticipating in the domination game may have a number of owned points.The owned points correspond to numerical information of virtualcurrency, game execution points, and the like.

In a case where a predetermined condition may be satisfied in the game,the owned points may be stored by the game device, associated with theplayer. For example, in a case where it is determined that the game maybe started, in a case where it is determined that a predetermined periodelapses from the start of the game, or in a case where a progress stateof the game coincides with a specific situation, the owned points may bestored in association with the player. The case where a progress stateof the game coincides with a specific situation refers to a case where aspecific game region R may be set as a corresponding region of a player,which will be described later, a case where the number of correspondingregions of a player reaches a predetermined value, a case where thenumber of times of a game region R being designated by a player reachesa predetermined value, or the like. In this case, region points of aplayer and/or points of a value corresponding to the region points ofanother player in the corresponding region may be given to the player asowned points.

Each of the plurality of players participating in the domination gamemay designate a game region R included in the displayed game field F, ina predetermined order. The predetermined order may be referred to as aninput operation order below. A player who performs an input operation inthe input operation order may be an example of a first player. The gamedevice may receive a request of a player, which may include informationindicating a game region R which has been designated by the player. Thegame device may correlate a portion of the owned points associated withthe player, with the game region R designated by the player, inaccordance with the received request of the player. The owned points ofone or each of the plurality of players who respectively designate gameregions R may be associated with the corresponding game region R. Theowned points correlated with the game region R may be referred to asregion points below.

In a case where the region points may be correlated with the game regionR by the request of the player, the game device may determine whether ornot the region points of the player, which may be correlated with thegame region R may be larger than the region points of another player,which may be correlated with the game region R. In a case where the gamedevice determines that the region points of the player, which may becorrelated with the game region Rare larger than the region points ofanother player, which may be correlated with the game region R, the gamedevice may set the game region R to be a corresponding region of theplayer. In this manner, the game device sets each of the plurality ofgame regions R to be a corresponding region of the player which may becorrelated with the largest value of region points among region pointscorrelated with the game region R.

In the example of the game field F illustrated in FIG. 1A, 30 points, 20points, and 10 points may be correlated with a game region Ra1, as theregion points of a first player, player A, a second player, player B,and a third player, player C, respectively. 20 points, 30 points, and 10points may be correlated with a game region Rb1, as the region points ofplayer A, player B, and player C, respectively. 20 points, 10 points,and 30 points may be correlated with a game region Rc1, as the regionpoints of player A, player B, and player C, respectively.

Players correlated with the region point having the largest value amongthe region points which may be respectively correlated with the gameregion Ra1, the game region Rb1, and the game region Rc1 may be playerA, player B, and player C. Thus, the game region Ra1 may be set as thecorresponding region of player A, the game region Rb1 may be set as thecorresponding region of player B, and the game region Rc1 may be set asthe corresponding region of player C.

FIG. 1B illustrates a case where 100 points of the owned points ofplayer A may be correlated with a game region Ra2, as region points. Thegame region Ra2 has not been designated by player A, player B, andplayer C before. Thus, before player A correlates the region points of100 points with the game region Ra2, 0 points have been correlated withthe game region Ra2, as the region points of player A, player B, andplayer C, respectively. However, at this time, the region point of 100points may be correlated with game region Ra2 by player A. Thus, thegame region Ra2 may be set as the corresponding region of player A, whocorrelates the region point having the largest value with the gameregion Ra2.

An example of region points changing processing executed by the gamedevice in a case where the game region Ra2 may be set as thecorresponding region of player A will be described below.

Firstly, the game device may specify the corresponding region Ra1 ofplayer A, which has been previously set and may be different from thecorresponding region Ra2 of player A, which may be set this time. Then,the game device may determine whether or not one or a plurality of gameregions R (in FIG. 1B, Rb1 and Rc1) between the corresponding region Ra2of player A which may be set, and the specified corresponding region Ra1of player A may be disposed in a predetermined arrangement. Thepredetermined arrangement may be an arrangement of game regions R on apredetermined line which has end points in the corresponding region Ra2of player A, which may be set this time, and in the corresponding regionRa1 of player A, which has been previously set. The predetermined linemay have a shape of a straight line, a polygonal line, a curved line, orthe like.

In a case where the game device determines that the game regions Rb1 andRc1 are disposed in the predetermined arrangement, the game device maydetermine whether or not all of the determined game regions Rb1 and Rc1may be corresponding regions of another player who may be different fromplayer A. Then, in a case where the game device determines that all ofthe game regions Rb1 and Rc1 are the corresponding regions of the otherplayer, the game device may extract region points of player A correlatedwith the game regions Rb1 and Rc1, and region points of the other playerwho has the game regions Rb1 and Rc1 as the corresponding regions.

In the example of the game field F illustrated in FIG. 2, the regionpoints (20 points) of player A, which may be correlated with the gameregion Rb1, and the region points (30 points) of player B who has thegame region Rb1 as the corresponding region may be extracted. The regionpoints (20 points) of player A, which may be correlated with the gameregion Rc1, and the region points (30 points) of player C who has thegame region Rc1 as the corresponding region may be extracted.

Regarding the game region Rb1, the game device may replaces theextracted region points of player A with the extracted region points ofplayer B, and correlates the replaced region points with the game regionRb1. That is, regarding the game region Rb1, the game device correlatesthe extracted region points (30 points) of player B, with the gameregion Rb1, as the region points of player A. In addition, regarding thegame region Rb1, the game device correlates the extracted region points(20 points) of player A with the game region Rb1, as the region pointsof player B.

Similarly, regarding the game region Rc1, the game device replaces theextracted region points of player A with the extracted region points ofplayer C, and correlates the replaced region points with the game regionRc1. That is, regarding the game region Rc1, the game device correlatesthe extracted region points (30 points) of player C, with the gameregion Rc1, as the region points of player A. In addition, regarding thegame region Rc1, the game device correlates the extracted region points(20 points) of player A with the game region Rc1, as the region pointsof player C.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the region points of player A maythus become larger than the region points of another player, in the gameregion R having the changed region point values, and as such the gamedevice may set the game region R as the corresponding region of playerA. In the example of the game field F illustrated in FIG. 2, the regionpoints (30 points) of player A, which may be correlated with the gameregion Rb1 may be larger than the region points of player B and playerC, which may be correlated with the game region Rb1. Thus, the gamedevice sets the game region Rb1 as the corresponding region of player A.The region points (30 points) of player A, which may be correlated withthe game region Rc1 may be larger than the region points of player B andplayer C, which may be correlated with the game region Rc1. Thus, thegame device may set the game region Rc1 as the corresponding region ofplayer A. A game region R (in the example illustrated in FIG. 2, gameregions Rb1 and Rc1) as a target of the region-point changing processingmay be referred to as a point-change target region below.

Hitherto, the descriptions may be made with reference to FIGS. 1A to 2.In the above-described game device and a control method of the gamedevice, the region-point changing processing may be performed in thedomination game. Thus, a player can receive the region points of anotherplayer, which may be correlated with a game region R, as the regionpoints of the player, without an operation of designating the gameregion R. In this manner, it may be possible to realize a dominationgame requiring a strategy of a player, which may therefore improve theinterest in the game by the game device performing the region-pointchanging processing, and by the control method of the game device. Aplayer who has the largest total amount of the region points when thegame may be ended, or has the largest number of corresponding regionsmay be determined to be the winning player.

The above descriptions of FIGS. 1A to 2 may be just descriptions forbetter understanding the details of the present invention. The presentinvention may be implemented in embodiments which will be describedbelow, and may be implemented in various modification examples in arange without departing from the gist of the present invention. All ofsuch modification examples may be included in the disclosure scope ofthe present invention and this specification.

Configuration of Game System 1

FIG. 3 may be a diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of the game system 1.

The game system 1 may include a server 3 and a plurality of portableterminals 2 which may be respectively operated by a plurality ofplayers. The portable terminal 2 and the server 3 may be connected toeach other through, for example, a communication network such as a basestation 4, mobile communication network 5, a gateway 6, and the Internet7. A program (for example, a display processing program) executed in theportable terminal 2 and a program (for example, a region-point changingprocessing program) executed in the server 3 may communicate with eachother by using a communication protocol such as the Hypertext TransferProtocol (HTTP). The server 3 may be an example of the game device. Thegame device may not be limited to the server 3. A portable terminal 2which has some or all of functions of the server 3, which will bedescribed later may be used as the game device. The game system. 1including the portable terminal 2 and the server 3 may be used as thegame device.

A multi-function portable phone (so-called a “smart phone”) may be usedas the portable terminal 2, but the present invention may not be limitedthereto. As the portable terminal 2, any device may be provided as longas the present invention can be applied. For example, an informationprocessing device such as a portable phone (a so-called “featurephone”), a portable information terminal (personal digital assistant,PDA), a portable game machine, a portable audio player, a tabletterminal, a tablet PC, and a notebook PC may be provided.

Configuration of Portable Terminal 2

FIG. 4 may be a diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of the portable terminal 2.

The portable terminal 2 may execute a game such as the domination game,and may be connected to the server 3 through the base station 4, themobile communication network 5, the gateway 6, and the Internet 7, so asto communicate with the server 3. The portable terminal 2 may controlthe progress of a game in accordance with an operation of an input unit(touch panel and the like) 23 by a player. The portable terminal 2 mayreceive various types of data from the server 3, and may control theprogress of the game. For this, the portable terminal 2 may include acommunication unit 21, a storage unit 22, the input unit 23, a displayunit 24, and a processing unit 25.

The communication unit 21 may include a communication interface circuitwhich may include an antenna having a predetermined frequency band as areception band. The communication unit 21 may connect the portableterminal 2 to a wireless communication network. The communication unit21 may establish a wireless signal line by the code division multipleaccess (CDMA) scheme and the like, between the portable terminal 2 andthe base station 4 through a channel allocated by the base station 4.Thus, the communication unit 21 may communicate with the base station 4.The communication unit 21 may transmit data supplied from the processingunit 25 to the server 3 and the like. The communication unit 21 maysupply data received from the server 3 and the like to the processingunit 25.

The storage unit 22 may include a semiconductor memory device, forexample. The storage unit 22 may store an operating system program, adriver program, an application program including a game control program,data, and the like which may be used when the processing unit 25performs processing. For example, the storage unit 22 may store an inputdevice driver program for controlling the input unit 23, an outputdevice driver program for controlling the display unit 24, and the like,as the driver program. The storage unit 22 may store a displayprocessing program and the like for progressing the game based oninstruction data, data retrieved from the server 3, and the like, anddisplaying display data relating to the progress of the game, as theapplication program. The instruction data may be input by a playeroperating the input unit 23. The storage unit 22 may store dataretrieved from the server 3, display data relating to the progress ofthe game, video data, image data, and the like, as the data. Further,the storage unit 22 may temporarily store temporary data relating topredetermined processing.

The input unit 23 may be any device as long as the device enables anoperation for the portable terminal 2. For example, a pointing devicesuch as a touch panel may be provided. A player can input a character, anumber, a symbol, and the like by using the input unit 23. If the inputunit 23 is operated by a player, the input unit 23 may generate a signalcorresponding to the operation. The generated signal may be supplied tothe processing unit 25 in accordance with an instruction of the player.

The display unit 24 may be also any device as long as the device enablesdisplay of a video, an image, and the like. For example, a liquidcrystal display or an organic electro-luminescence (EL) device may beprovided. The display unit 24 may display a video corresponding to videodata supplied from the processing unit 25 or may display an image andthe like corresponding to image data supplied from the processing unit25.

The processing unit 25 may include one or a plurality of processors anda peripheral circuit. The processing unit 25 may collectively controlthe overall operation of the portable terminal 2, and may be a centralprocessing unit (CPU), for example. The processing unit 25 may controloperations of the communication unit 21, the display unit 24, and thelike, so as to perform various types of processing of the portableterminal 2 in appropriate procedures, based on the program stored in thestorage unit 22, an operation of the input unit 23, and the like. Theprocessing unit 25 may perform processing based on the program(operating system program, driver program, application program, and thelike) stored in the storage unit 22. The processing unit 25 can performa plurality of programs (application programs and the like) in parallel.

The processing unit 25 may include at least a display processing unit251 and an input processing unit 252. The units may be functionalmodules realized by a program which may be executed by a processorincluded in the processing unit 25. In addition, the units may bemounted as a firmware in the portable terminal 2.

An example of a game screen will be described below with reference toFIGS. 5A to 9B. The game screen may be displayed in display units 24 ofa portable terminal 2 a, a portable terminal 2 b, and a portableterminal 2 c which may be respectively held by player A, player B, andplayer C who participate in the game.

FIG. 5A may be a diagram illustrating an example of game screens 500 a,500 b, and 500 c which may be respectively displayed in display units 24of the portable terminal 2 a, the portable terminal 2 b, and theportable terminal 2 c.

If the game is started, firstly, the portable terminal 2 a displays agame screen 500 a for causing player A to designate a game region Rincluded in the game field F, in the display unit 24. The portableterminal 2 b and the portable terminal 2 c may respectively display agame screen 500 b and a game screen 500 c for browsing the game field F,in the display units 24 during a period when the game screen 500 a maybe displayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 a. Aperiod when the game screen for designating a game region R may bedisplayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 may bereferred to as an operable period below.

FIG. 5B may be a diagram illustrating an example of the game screen 500a displayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 a.

The game field F and a region-point designation button 501 a which maybe operation targets of player A may be displayed on the game screen 500a. The region-point designation button 501 a may be a button fordesignating a unit point of the owned points correlated with a gameregion R, from the owned points associated with player A. For example,in the example of the game screen 500 a illustrated in FIG. 5B, aregion-point designation button for one point, a region-pointdesignation button for 10 points, and a region-point designation buttonfor 100 points may be displayed as the region-point designation button501 a. An example of an operation method of a player for correlating atleast a portion of the owned points associated with player A, with agame region R as region points of the game region R will be describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, in a case where 30 points of the owned pointassociated with player A may be correlated with a desired game regionRa, for example, player A may designate the region-point designationbutton 501 a for 10 points, and may designate the desired game region Rathree times. For example, in a case where player A may cause a regionpoint of five points to be correlated with the desired game region Ra,player A may designate the region-point designation button 501 a for onepoint, and may designate the desired game region Ra five times. Forexample, in a case where player A may cause a region point of 200 pointsto be correlated with the desired game region Ra, player A may designatethe region-point designation button 501 a for 100 points, and maydesignate the desired game region Ra two times. Player A may designate aplurality of game regions Ra for the operable period.

In the example of the game screen 500 a illustrated in FIG. 6B, theregion points may be respectively correlated with four game regions Raby player A. Because the region points having the largest value may becorrelated with the four game regions Ra by player A, the four gameregions Ra may be set as the corresponding regions of player A. Thecorresponding region Ra of player A may be displayed based onpredetermined color information associated with player A, so as toenable the region Ra to be distinguished from other game regions R.

The game field F displayed on the game screen 500 a illustrated in FIGS.5B, 6A, and 6B may be displayed on the game screens 500 b and 500 cwhich may be respectively displayed in the display units 24 of theportable terminals 2 b and 2 c, so as to be browsable. The region-pointdesignation button 501 a may not be displayed on the game screens 500 band 500 c which may be respectively displayed in the display units 24 ofthe portable terminals 2 b and 2 c, and the game screens 500 b and 500 cmay be controlled to cause the game region Ra not to be designated bythe players B and C.

FIG. 7A may be a diagram illustrating an example of game screens 700 a,700 b, and 700 c which may be respectively displayed in the displayunits 24 of the portable terminals 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c when apredetermined operable period from when the game screen 500 a may bedisplayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 a may beended.

When the predetermined operable period from when the game screen 500 amay be displayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 a maybe ended, the portable terminal 2 b may display the game screen 700 b inthe display unit 24. The game screen 700 b may be used for causingplayer B to designate a game region R included in the game field F. Theportable terminals 2 a and 2 c may respectively display the game screens700 a and 700 c for browsing the game field F, in the display units 24during an operable period when the game screen 700 b may be displayed inthe display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 b.

FIG. 7B may be a diagram illustrating an example of the game screen 700b displayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 b.

The game field F and a region-point designation button 701 b which maybe operation targets of player B may be displayed on the game screen 700b. The corresponding region Ra of player A which has been set before thegame screen 700 b may be displayed (when the previous operable periodmay be ended) may be displayed in the game field F. Player B maydesignate the region-point designation button 701 b, so as to designatea desired game region R. Thus, player B correlates at least a portion ofthe owned points associated with player B, with the desired game regionR, as the region points. Player B may correlate the region points withthe corresponding region Ra of player A.

The game field F displayed on the game screen 700 b illustrated in FIG.7B may be displayed on the game screens 700 a and 700 c which may berespectively displayed in the display units 24 of the portable terminals2 a and 2 c, so as to be browsable. The region-point designation button701 b may not be displayed on the game screens 700 a and 700 c which maybe respectively displayed in the display units 24 of the portableterminals 2 a and 2 c, and the game screens 700 a and 700 c may becontrolled to cause the game region Ra not to be designated by theplayers A and C.

FIG. 8A may be a diagram illustrating an example of game screens 800 a,800 b, and 800 c which may be respectively displayed in the displayunits 24 of the portable terminals 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c when apredetermined operable period from when the game screen 700 b may bedisplayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 b may beended.

When the predetermined operable period from when the game screen 700 bmay be displayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 b isended, the portable terminal 2 c may display the game screen 800 c inthe display unit 24. The game screen 800 c may be used for causingplayer C to designate a game region R included in the game field F. Theportable terminals 2 a and 2 b may respectively display the game screens800 a and 800 b for browsing the game field F, in the display units 24during an operable period when the game screen 800 c may be displayed inthe display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 c.

FIG. 8B may be a diagram illustrating an example of the game screen 800c displayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 c.

The game field F and a region-point designation button 801 c which maybe operation targets of player C may be displayed on the game screen 800c. The corresponding region Ra of player A and the corresponding regionRb of player B which have been set before the game screen 800 c may bedisplayed (when the previous operable period may be ended) may bedisplayed in the game field F. The corresponding region Rb of player Bmay be displayed based on predetermined color information associatedwith player B, so as to enable the region Rb to be distinguished fromother game regions R and the corresponding region Ra of player A. PlayerC may designate the region-point designation button 801 c, so as todesignate a desired game region R. Thus, player C may correlate at leasta portion of the owned points associated with player C, with the desiredgame region R, as region points. Player C may correlate the region pointwith the corresponding region Ra of player A and the correspondingregion Rb of player B.

The game field F displayed on the game screen 800 c illustrated in FIG.8B may be displayed on the game screens 800 a and 800 b which may berespectively displayed in the display units 24 of the portable terminals2 a and 2 b, so as to be browsable. The region-point designation button801 c may not be displayed on the game screens 800 a and 800 b which maybe respectively displayed in the display units 24 of the portableterminals 2 a and 2 b, and the game screens 700 a and 700 c may becontrolled to cause the game region Ra not to be designated by theplayers A and B.

FIG. 9A may be a diagram illustrating an example of the game screens 500a, 500 b, and 500 c which may be respectively displayed in the displayunits 24 of the portable terminals 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c when apredetermined operable period, from when the game screen 800 c may bedisplayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 c, may beended.

When the predetermined operable period from when the game screen 800 cmay be displayed in the display unit 24 of the portable terminal 2 c maybe ended, the portable terminal 2 a displays the game screen 500 a forcausing player A to designate a game region R included in the game fieldF again, in the display unit 24. The portable terminals 2 b and 2 c mayrespectively display the game screens 500 b and 500 c for browsing thegame field F, in the display units 24 during an operable period when thegame screen 500 a may be displayed in the display unit 24 of theportable terminal 2 a.

FIG. 9B may be a diagram illustrating an example of the game screen 500a which may be displayed again in the display unit 24 of the portableterminal 2 a.

The game field F and a region-point designation button 501 a which maybe operation targets of player A may be displayed on the game screen 500a. The corresponding region Ra of player A, the corresponding region Rbof player B, and the corresponding region Rc of player C which have beenset before the game screen 500 a may be displayed again (when theprevious operable period may be ended) may be displayed in the gamefield F. The corresponding region Rc of player C may be displayed basedon predetermined color information associated with player C, so as toenable the region Rc to be distinguished from other game regions R, thecorresponding region Ra of player A, and the corresponding region Rb ofplayer B. Player A may designate the region-point designation button 501a, so as to designate a desired game region R. Thus, player A correlatesat least a portion of the owned points associated with player A, withthe desired game region R, as the region points.

Player A may correlate the region points with the corresponding regionRa of player A, the corresponding region Rb of player B, and thecorresponding region Rc of player C which have been displayed in thegame screen 500 a. In a case where player A sets one or more regionpoints in the corresponding region Ra of player A before the game screen500 a may be displayed again, the region points which may be designatedthis time may be added to the region points of player A for thecorresponding region Ra, which have been already correlated. Then, theregion points of player A, which may be obtained by the addition may becorrelated with the corresponding region Ra.

As described above, a set of the game screens 500 a, 500 b, and 500 c, aset of the game screens 700 a, 700 b, and 700 c, and a set of the gamescreens 800 a, 800 b, and 800 c may be sequentially displayed in thedisplay units 24 of the portable terminals 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c for eachpredetermined operable period. Then, the set of the game screens 500 a,500 b, and 500 c, a set of the game screens 700 a, 700 b, and 700 c, anda set of the game screens 800 a, 800 b, and 800 c may be displayed againin the display units 24 of the portable terminals 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c foreach predetermined operable period. In an exemplary embodiment, if aseries of processes in which all players who participate in the gameperform an input operation in the input operation order for eachpredetermined operable period is performed the predetermined number oftimes, the game may be ended.

FIGS. 10 to 12 may be schematic diagrams illustrating an example ofsetting the corresponding region Ra of player A, the correspondingregion Rb of player B, and the corresponding region Rc of player C.

In the example of the game field F illustrated in FIG. 10, 10 points, 20points, and 30 points may be respectively correlated with the gameregion Rc1, as the region points of player A, player B, and player C.Thus, the game region Rc1 may be set as the corresponding region ofplayer C.

30 points, 20 points, and 10 points may be respectively correlated withthe game region Ra1, as the region points of player A, player B, andplayer C. Thus, the game region Ra1 may be set as the correspondingregion of player A. 20 points, 0 point, and 0 point may be respectivelycorrelated with the game region Ra2, as the region points of player A,player B, and player C. Thus, the game region Ra2 may be set as thecorresponding region of player A.

FIG. 11 illustrates a case where player A further correlates 60 pointsas the region point, with the corresponding region Rc1 of player C inthe game field F illustrated in FIG. 10. In this case, a region point of60 points, which may be correlated this time may be added to the regionpoint of 10 points of player A, which has been already correlated withthe corresponding region Rc1. Thus, the region point of 70 points ofplayer A after addition may be correlated with the corresponding regionRc1.

FIG. 12 illustrates a display form in a case where a new region point ofplayer A may be correlated with the corresponding region Rc1 of player Cin the game field F illustrated in FIG. 11. The region point of playerA, which may be correlated with the corresponding region Rc1 may be 70points which may be larger than the region points of player B and playerC. Thus, the corresponding region Rc1 may be set as a correspondingregion Ra3 of player A. The corresponding region Ra3 may be displayedbased on the predetermined color information associated with player A.

FIGS. 13 to 16 may be schematic diagrams illustrating an example of theregion-point changing processing.

In the example of the game field F illustrated in FIG. 13, 30 points, 20points, and 10 points may be respectively correlated with the gameregion Ra1, as the region points of player A, player B, and player C.Thus, the game region Ra1 may be set as the corresponding region ofplayer A.

30 points, 50 points, and 0 points may be respectively correlated withthe game region Rb1, as the region points of player A, player B, andplayer C. Thus, the game region Rb1 may be set as the correspondingregion of player B. 0 points, 0 points, and 70 points may berespectively correlated with the game region Rc1, as the region pointsof player A, player B, and player C. Thus, the game region Rc1 may beset as the corresponding region of player C.

0 points, 0 points, and 0 points may be respectively correlated with thegame region Ra2, as the region points of player A, player B, and playerC. Thus, the game region Ra2 may not be set as the corresponding regionof the players.

FIG. 14 illustrates a display form in a case where player A correlates100 points as a new region point, with the game region Ra2 in the gamefield F illustrated in FIG. 13. In this case, the region point of playerA may not be correlated with the game region Ra2. Thus, the region pointof 100 points, which may be correlated this time may be correlated withthe game region Ra2. Since the region point of player A, which may becorrelated with the game region Ra2 may be 100 points which may belarger than the region points of player B and player C, the game regionRa2 may be set as the corresponding region of player A.

FIG. 15 illustrates a case where the game regions Rb1 and Rc1 may bearranged between the corresponding region Ra2 of player A, which may beset this time, and the other corresponding region Ra1 of player A, whichhas been previously set.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, the region points of player A,which may be correlated with the game region Rb1, and the region pointsof player B who has the game region Rb1 as the corresponding region maybe extracted. The extracted region points of 50 points of player B maybecome region points of player A, with the game region Rb1. Theextracted region point of 30 points of player A may become the regionpoints of player B, in the game region Rb1.

In addition, the region points of player A, which may be correlated withthe game region Rc1, and the region points of player C who has the gameregion Rc1 as the corresponding region may be extracted. The extractedregion points of 70 points of player C may become the region points ofplayer A, with the game region Rc1. The extracted region point of 0point of player A may become the region points of player C, in the gameregion Rc1.

FIG. 16 illustrates a display form after the region-point changingprocessing may be performed on the corresponding regions Rb1 and Rc1 inthe game field F illustrated in FIG. 15. The region points of 50 pointsof player A, which may be correlated with the game region Rb1 may belarger than the region points of 30 points of player B, and the regionpoints of 10 points of player C, which may be correlated with the gameregion Rb1. Thus, the game region Rb1 may be set as a correspondingregion Ra3 of player A. The region points of 70 points of player A,which may be correlated with the game region Rc1 may be larger than theregion points of 20 points of player B, and the region points of 0 pointof player C, which may be correlated with the game region Rc1. Thus, thegame region Rc1 may be set as a corresponding region Ra4 of player A.

Hitherto, the descriptions may be made with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16.In the game in which a game region may be correlated with a player, itmay be possible to obtain a game region as a corresponding region of aplayer without the player designating a corresponding region of anotherplayer, by the region-point changing processing. That is, a player canacquire the region points of another player, which corresponds to thecorresponding region of this player, without directly consuming theowned point for the corresponding region of this player. Thus, it may bepossible to provide a game requiring players to exercise a strategy.

Configuration of Server 3

FIG. 17 may be a diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of the server 3. FIGS. 18A to 19B may be diagramsillustrating an example of data structures of various tables stored in aserver storage unit 32.

The server 3 may include a server communication unit 31, the serverstorage unit 32, and a server processing unit 33. The server 3 may causevarious games such as a domination game to proceed, in accordance with arequest from the portable terminal 2. The server 3 may create displaydata and the like regarding the progress of the game, and may transmitthe created display data to the portable terminal 2.

The server communication unit 31 may include a communication interfacecircuit for connecting the server 3 to the Internet 7, and may thusperform communication with the Internet 7. The server communication unit31 may supply data which has been received from the portable terminal 2and the like, to the server processing unit 33. The server communicationunit 31 may transmit data supplied from the server processing unit 33,to the portable terminal 2 and the like.

The server storage unit 32 may include at least one of a magnetic tapedevice, a magnetic disk device, and an optical disk device, for example.The server storage unit 32 may store an operating system program, adriver program, an application program, data, and the like which may beused in processing in the server processing unit 33. For example, theserver storage unit 32 may store a game program and the like of causingthe game to proceed and creating display data regarding a result, as theapplication program. For example, the computer program may be installedon the storage unit 22 from a computer-readable portable type recordingmedium such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM, by using a well-known set-upprogram and the like.

The server storage unit 32 may store a player table illustrated in FIG.18A, a game field table illustrated in FIG. 18B, and the like, as thedata. The server storage unit 32 may store a game table illustrated inFIG. 19A, and may store a region point table illustrated in FIG. 19B.The server storage unit 32 may store various types of image data and thelike regarding the progress of the game. Further, the server storageunit 32 may temporarily store temporary data regarding predeterminedprocessing. That is, the server storage unit 32 may include a volatilememory (random access memory, RAM), and may store dynamic data whichchanges depending on the progress of the game.

FIG. 18A illustrates the player table for managing a player. A playerID, the name, the owned point, and the like of a player may be stored inthe player table for each player, in a state of being associated witheach other. The player ID may be an example of identificationinformation for recognizing players at once.

FIG. 18B illustrates the game field table for managing the game field F.A field ID, game region information, and the like of the game field maybe stored in the game field table for each game field, in a state ofbeing associated with each other. The field ID may be an example ofidentification information for recognizing game fields at once.

A region ID, a position, and the like of each of a plurality of gameregions R included in each game field may be stored in the game regioninformation, in a state of being associated with each other. The regionID may be an example of identification information for recognizing gameregions R which may be included in each game field at once. The positionmay be a position at which each of the game regions R may be disposed ineach game field. For example, the position may be two-dimensionalcoordinates of the center point of each of the game regions R.

FIG. 19A illustrates the game table for managing a game. A game ID, afield ID, participation player information, and the like of a game maybe stored in the game table for each executed game, in a state of beingassociated with each other. The game ID may be an example ofidentification information for recognizing games at once. The field IDmay be a field ID of a game field used in a game, and may be a field IDstored in the game field table.

Player IDs of participation players who participate in a game may bestored in the participation player information, in a state of beingarranged in an input operation order. In a game, the first player in theinput operation order may be referred to as the first player below. Thesecond player, the third player, and the like in the input operationorder may be referred to as the second player, the third player, and thelike below.

FIG. 19B illustrates the region point table for managing a region pointcorrelated with a game region R. The region point table may be createdfor each executed game. The region point table may be stored inassociation with the game ID of the game. A region ID, region pointinformation, and the like of a game region R may be stored in the regionpoint table for each game region R of a game field F used in the game,in a state of being associated with each other.

Region points of each game region, which may be respectively correlatedby a plurality of players who participate in the game may be stored inthe region point information, in a state of being associated with eachother. That is, region points of each game region, which may berespectively correlated by the first player, the second player, and thelike may be stored in association with each other.

Returning to FIG. 17, the server processing unit 33 may include at leasta progress control unit 331, a point retrieval unit 332, a correlationunit 333, and a setting unit 334. The units may be functional modulesrealized by a program which may be executed by a processor included inthe server processing unit 33. In addition, the units may be mounted asa firmware in the server 3.

An example of the display processing unit 251 and the input processingunit 252 included in the processing unit 25 of the portable terminal 2,and an example of the progress control unit 331, the point retrievalunit 332, the correlation unit 333, and the setting unit 334 included inthe server processing unit 33 of the server 3 will be described below.

Function of Display Processing Unit 251

The display processing unit 251 in the portable terminal 2 may display agame screen in the display unit 24, based on display data which has beenreceived from the server 3 through the communication unit 21. In a casewhere the received display data may be display data for displaying agame screen which may be used for causing a player to designate a gameregion R included in a game field F, the display processing unit 251 maydisplay a region-point designation button along with the game field F.In a case where the received display data may be display data fordisplaying a game screen which may be used for browsing the game fieldF, the display processing unit 251 may display the game field F.

In a case where the owned point of a player who will perform an inputoperation in the next operable period may be received from the server 3through the communication unit 21, the display processing unit 251 maystore the received owned point of the player in the storage unit 22.

Function of Input Processing Unit 252

In a case where an instruction to transmit a request of participating ina game provided by the server 3 may be performed by a player operatingthe input unit 23, the input processing unit 252 in the portableterminal 2 may transmit a participation request for participating in thegame, to the server 3 through the communication unit 21. Theparticipation request may include the player ID of a player whotransmits the participation request, the game ID of a game to beparticipated, and the like.

If the game screen for causing a player to designate a game region Rincluded in the game field F may be displayed by the display processingunit 251, the input processing unit 252 accepts game region designationin an operable period. In accepting processing of the game regiondesignation, firstly, the input processing unit 252 may store regionpoints correlated with a game region R, based on a region-pointdesignation button and the game region R which have been designated by aplayer operating the input unit 23. The region points may be stored inthe storage unit 22, in association with the region ID of the gameregion R. The input processing unit 252 subtracts the correlated regionpoints from the owned point of the player, which may be stored in thestorage unit 22. The input processing unit 252 may store the subtractedowned point in the storage unit 22. Whenever the owned point may besubtracted, the display processing unit 251 may display the subtractedowned point on the game screen.

The input processing unit 252 instructs the display processing unit 251to end display of the game screen when the operable period may be ended.The input processing unit 252 transmits input data to the server 3through the communication unit 21. The transmitted input data mayinclude the player ID of a player who holds the portable terminal 2, anda region point associated with the region ID stored in the storage unit22.

Function of Progress Control Unit 331

If a participation request is received from the portable terminal 2through the server communication unit 31, the progress control unit 331in the server 3 may perform game start processing. In the game startprocessing, firstly, the progress control unit 331 may specify a playerID and a game ID included in the participation request received from theportable terminal 2. Then, the progress control unit 331 may store thespecified player ID in the participation player information of the gametable. The specified player ID may be stored as the player ID of aparticipation player who participates in a game indicated by thespecified game ID, in association with the specified game ID. Thespecified player ID may be stored as the player ID of a participationplayer, in the participation player information, in an order ofreceiving the participation request. Then, in a case where there is agame in which the number of persons participating reaches an upper limitwhich enables participation in the game, with reference to theparticipation player information of the game table, the progress controlunit 331 may start the game. The input operation order for each player,which may be stored in the participation player information may not belimited to the order of receiving the participation request. Forexample, in a case where the number of persons participating reaches anupper limit which enables participation in the game, with reference tothe participation player information of the game table, the progresscontrol unit 331 may randomly line up player IDs included in theparticipation player information, and may store the list of the playerIDs in the participation player information.

If the game is started, the progress control unit 331 may transmitdisplay data for displaying a game screen of the started game, toportable terminals 2 of players ID included in the participation playerinformation associated with the started game, with reference to the gametable. A game field F including a game region R based on game regioninformation which may be extracted from the game field table and relatesto a field ID associated with the game ID of the started game may beincluded in the game screen of the started game. The region-pointdesignation button may be included along with the game field F, in thegame screen transmitted to the portable terminal 2 of the first playerID included in the participation player information.

If the region points for each region ID after the region-point changingprocessing are stored by the setting unit 334, the progress control unit331 may create display data for displaying a game screen. The createddisplay data may be display data for displaying a game screen includingthe game field F which may include a corresponding region colored basedon the region point after the region-point changing processing. Theprogress control unit 331 may specify the player ID corresponding to thenext input operation order among player IDs included in input data, withreference to the game table. The progress control unit 331 may createdisplay data which may be transmitted to the portable terminal 2 for thespecified player ID. In the created display data, the region-pointdesignation button may be included in the game screen.

The progress control unit 331 may transmit display data to the portableterminal 2 for the player ID corresponding to the next input operationorder, and may simultaneously extract the owned point associated withthe player ID, from the player table. The progress control unit 331 maytransmit the extracted owned point to the portable terminal 2 for theplayer ID.

Function of Point Retrieval Unit 332

The point retrieval unit 332 in the server 3 may retrieve input datawhich has been received from the portable terminal 2 through the servercommunication unit 31. The point retrieval unit 332 may retrieve theplayer ID of a player, and a region point associated with the region ID.The player ID and the region point may be included in the retrievedinput data.

The point retrieval unit 332 may retrieve region point informationassociated with the region ID stored in the region point table.

The point retrieval unit 332 may calculate the summation value of regionpoints which may be respectively associated with region IDs included inthe input data received when an operable period may be ended. The pointretrieval unit 332 may subtract the calculated summation value from theowned point of the player, which has been stored in the player table.The point retrieval unit 332 may store the subtracted owned point of theplayer, in the player table.

Function of Correlation Unit 333

The correlation unit 333 in the server 3 may add a region pointassociated with each region ID, to the region point corresponding to theplayer ID included in input data. The region ID may be included in theinput data retrieved by the point retrieval unit 332. The region pointmay be stored in the region point information associated with eachregion ID stored in the region point table. The correlation unit 333 mayoutput a region point after addition. The correlation unit 333 mayspecify the region ID of a game region R in which the region point valuecorresponding to the player ID included in the input data may be largerthan all region points of other players in the region point afteraddition, and, in the region point information, the region point valuecorresponding to the player ID included in the input data may be smallerthan region points of all other players, as the current correspondingregion ID.

Function of Setting Unit 334

If the current corresponding region ID is specified by the correlationunit 333, the setting unit 334 in the server 3 performs specifyingprocessing of a point-change target region. According to an exemplaryembodiment, when specifying processing of a point-change target region,firstly, the setting unit 334 may extract region point informationstored in the region point table. Then, the setting unit 334 may specifya region ID of a game region in which a region point corresponding tothe player ID stored in the input data may be larger than region pointsof all other players, as the previous corresponding region ID in theregion point information. Then, the setting unit 334 may specify regionIDs of game regions disposed in predetermined arrangement, between thecurrent corresponding region ID and the previous corresponding region IDwith reference to the game field table. In a case where all of thespecified game regions disposed in the predetermined arrangement may becorresponding regions of other players which may be different from theplayer of the player ID included in the input data, the setting unit 334may specify the specified game regions disposed in the predeterminedarrangement, as point-change target regions. With the abovedescriptions, the specifying processing of a point-change target regionmay be ended.

In a case where the point-change target region is specified by thespecifying processing of a point-change target region, the setting unit334 may perform point change processing. In the point change processing,firstly, the setting unit 334 may extract region point informationassociated with a region ID of a region-point changing target region,from the region point table. Then, the setting unit 334 may extract thelargest region point and a region point corresponding to the player IDincluded in the input data, in the extracted region point information,for the region ID of the region-point changing target region. Then, thesetting unit 334 may generate region point information obtained byreplacing the extracted largest region point with the region pointcorresponding to the player ID included in the input data, for theregion ID of the region-point changing target region. The setting unit334 may store the generated region point information in the region pointtable.

Operation Sequence of Game System 1

FIG. 20 may be a diagram illustrating an example of an operationsequence of the game system 1. The operation sequence may be executedbased on a program which has been stored in advance in the storage unit22 and the server storage unit 32. The operation sequence may be mainlyexecuted by the processing unit 25 and the server processing unit 33, incooperation with the components of the portable terminal 2 and theserver 3. As an example, an operation sequence of the game system 1 inwhich the server 3 provides a game in which player A, player B, andplayer C participate, for the portable terminal 2 a of player A, theportable terminal 2 b of player B, and the portable terminal 2 c ofplayer C will be described below.

Firstly, the input processing unit 252 in the portable terminal 2 a ofplayer A may transmit a participation request for participating in agame, to the server 3 through the communication unit 21 in accordancewith an operation of the input unit 23 by player A (Step S101).

The input processing unit 252 in the portable terminal 2 b of player Bmay transmit a participation request for participating in a game, to theserver 3 through the communication unit 21 in accordance with anoperation of the input unit 23 by player B (Step S102).

The input processing unit 252 in the portable terminal 2 c of player Cmay transmit a participation request for participating in a game, to theserver 3 through the communication unit 21 in accordance with anoperation of the input unit 23 by player C (Step S103).

In Steps S101 to S103 in the operation sequence illustrated in FIG. 20,the participation requests may be transmitted to the server 3 in anorder of the portable terminal 2 a, the portable terminal 2 b, and theportable terminal 2 c. However, the order of transmission may not belimited thereto. That is, processes of Steps S101 to S103 may beexecuted in an order of the participation request being transmitted bythe portable terminal 2.

Then, if the participation request is received from each of the portableterminal 2 through the server communication unit 31, the progresscontrol unit 331 in the server 3 may perform the game start processing(Step S104). Descriptions will be made below on the assumption thatplayer A, player B, and player C respectively correspond to the firstplayer, the second player, and the third player.

Then, the progress control unit 331 may transmit display data fordisplaying the game screen 500 a which may be used for causing player Ato designate a game region R included in the game field F, to theportable terminal 2 a of player A through the server communication unit31 (Step S105). The progress control unit 331 may transmit the ownedpoint of player A to the portable terminal 2 a of player A through theserver communication unit 31.

The progress control unit 331 may transmit display data for displayingthe game screen 500 b which may be used for browsing the game field F,to the portable terminal 2 b of player B through the servercommunication unit 31 (Step S106).

The progress control unit 331 may transmit display data for displayingthe game screen 500 c which may be used for browsing the game field F,to the portable terminal 2 c of player C through the servercommunication unit 31 (Step S107).

Then, the display processing unit 251 of the portable terminal 2 a maydisplay the game screen 500 a based on the display data which has beenreceived from the server 3 through the communication unit 21. The inputprocessing unit 252 of the portable terminal 2 a may accept game regiondesignation in an operable period (Step S108). The display processingunit 251 may store the received owned point of player A, in the storageunit 22 before execution of Step S108.

Then, the input processing unit 252 of the portable terminal 2 a maytransmit input data which may include a region point correlated with thegame region R, to the server 3 through the communication unit 21 (StepS109).

Then, if the input data may be received from the portable terminal 2 aof player A, the progress control unit 331, the point retrieval unit332, the correlation unit 333, and the setting unit 334 in the server 3execute the game progress processing (Step S110). Details of the gameprogress processing will be described later.

Then, the progress control unit 331 may transmit display data fordisplaying the game screen 700 a which may be used for browsing the gamefield F, to the portable terminal 2 a of player A through the servercommunication unit 31 (Step S111).

The progress control unit 331 transmits display data for displaying thegame screen 700 b which may be used for causing player B to designate agame region R included in the game field F, to the portable terminal 2 bof player B through the server communication unit 31 (Step S112). Theprogress control unit 331 may transmit the owned point of player B tothe portable terminal 2 b of player B through the server communicationunit 31.

The progress control unit 331 may transmit display data for displayingthe game screen 700 c which may be used for browsing the game field F,to the portable terminal 2 c of player C through the servercommunication unit 31 (Step S113).

Then, the display processing unit 251 of the portable terminal 2 b maydisplay the game screen 700 b based on the display data which has beenreceived from the server 3 through the communication unit 21. The inputprocessing unit 252 of the portable terminal 2 b may accept game regiondesignation in an operable period (Step S114). The display processingunit 251 may store the received owned point of player B, in the storageunit 22 before execution of Step S114.

Then, the input processing unit 252 of the portable terminal 2 b maytransmit input data which may include a region point correlated with thegame region R, to the server 3 through the communication unit 21 (StepS115).

Then, if the input data is received from the portable terminal 2 b ofplayer B, the progress control unit 331, the point retrieval unit 332,the correlation unit 333, and the setting unit 334 in the server 3 mayperform the game progress processing (Step S116). Details of the gameprogress processing will be described later.

Then, the progress control unit 331 may transmit display data fordisplaying the game screen 800 a which may be used for browsing the gamefield F, to the portable terminal 2 a of player A through the servercommunication unit 31 (Step S117).

The progress control unit 331 may transmit display data for displayingthe game screen 800 b which may be used for browsing the game field F,to the portable terminal 2 b of player B through the servercommunication unit 31 (Step S118).

The progress control unit 331 may transmit display data for displayingthe game screen 800 c which may be used for causing player C todesignate a game region R included in the game field F, to the portableterminal 2 c of player C through the server communication unit 31 (StepS119). The progress control unit 331 may transmit the owned point ofplayer C to the portable terminal 2 c of player C through the servercommunication unit 31.

Then, the display processing unit 251 of the portable terminal 2 c maydisplay the game screen 800 c based on the display data which has beenreceived from the server 3 through the communication unit 21. The inputprocessing unit 252 of the portable terminal 2 c may accept a gameregion designation in an operable period (Step S120). The displayprocessing unit 251 may store the received owned points of player C, inthe storage unit 22, before execution of Step S120.

Then, the input processing unit 252 of the portable terminal 2 c maytransmit input data which may include a region point correlated with thegame region R, to the server 3, through the communication unit 21 (StepS121).

Then, if the input data is received from the portable terminal 2 c ofplayer C, the progress control unit 331, the point retrieval unit 332,the correlation unit 333, and the setting unit 334 in the server 3 mayperform the game progress processing (Step S122). Details of the gameprogress processing will be described later.

After that, the above-described processes of Step S105 to Step S122 maybe executed until each of the portable terminals 2 performs the gameregion designation the number of times, which may be preset by theserver 3.

Game Progress Processing

FIG. 21 may be a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow ofthe game progress processing performed by the progress control unit 331,the point retrieval unit 332, the correlation unit 333, and the settingunit 334. The game progress processing illustrated in FIG. 21 may beexecuted in the processes of Steps S110, S116, and S122 in FIG. 20.

Firstly, the point retrieval unit 332 may retrieve the player ID of aplayer and a region point associated with a region ID, from the inputdata which has been received from the portable terminal 2 through theserver communication unit 31 (Step S201). The point retrieval unit 332may retrieve region point information associated with the region IDstored in the region point table. In Step S201, the point retrieval unit332 may store the subtracted owned point of the player, in the playertable, based on the summation value of region points associated with theregion ID included in the input data.

Then, the correlation unit 333 may calculate a region point afteraddition, and may specify the current corresponding region ID (StepS202).

Then, if the current corresponding region ID may be specified, thesetting unit 334 may perform the specifying processing of a point-changetarget region (Step S203).

Then, the setting unit 334 may determine whether or not the point-changetarget region may be specified by the specifying processing of apoint-change target region (Step S204).

In a case where no point-change target region is specified (No in StepS204), the setting unit 334 may cause the process to proceed to StepS207.

In a case where the point-change target region is specified (Yes in StepS204), the setting unit 334 may perform the region-point changingprocessing (Step S205).

Then, the setting unit 334 may store the region point after theregion-point changing processing, as region point information of theregion point table for each region ID (Step S206). In a case where thelast game progress processing in the executed game is performed, theprocess of Step S206 may be executed, and a series of steps may beended.

The progress control unit 331 may create display data for displaying agame screen which may include the game field F including thecorresponding region colored based on the region point information ofthe region point table (Step S207), and may then end a series of steps.

Hitherto, as described above in detail, the game system 1 performs theregion-point changing processing in a domination game. Thus, a firstplayer can have the region points of another player, which may becorrelated with a game region R, as the region points of the firstplayer without designating the game region R. Thus, it may be possibleto realize a game requiring a player to exercise a strategy, improvingthe player's interest for the game. In the above descriptions, as anexample, the descriptions may be made by using player A, player B, andplayer C as players participating in the game. However, the number ofplayers participating in the game may not be limited to three. The shapeof the game region may be any shape.

Modification Example 1

In receiving processing of game region designation by the inputprocessing unit 252 of the portable terminal 2, predetermineddesignation conditions may be associated with a plurality of gameregions R included in the game field F which may be used in the game.

FIG. 22A may be a schematic diagram illustrating another example of thegame field F used in the game.

In the example of the game field F illustrated in FIG. 22A, a gameregion Rx which does not function as the point-change target region maybe disposed in the game field F. The game system 1 may associate acondition in that, in a case where a player correlates a region pointwith the game region Rx, a first predetermined point value may beconsumed from the owned points of the player, with the game region Rx,as the predetermined designation condition. For example, in the gameregion information of the game field table, the first predeterminedpoint value may be associated and stored in correlation with the regionID of a game region Rx. In a case where a game region R designated by aplayer operating an input unit 23 may be the game region Rx, the inputprocessing unit 252 may consume the correlated region point(s) and thefirst predetermined point value associated with the region ID of thegame region Rx, from the owned point of the player, which may be storedin the storage unit 22.

In this manner, in a case where a game region Rx of which a probabilityof being included in the predetermined arrangement may be lower thanthat of another game region R may be a region at an end portion of allgame regions R included in the game field F, if a region point may becorrelated with the game region Rx by a player, the correlated regionpoint and the first predetermined point value associated with the gameregion Rx may be consumed from the owned point of the player.

The game region Rx of which a probability of being included in thepredetermined arrangement may be lower than that of another game regionR may not be limited to the game region Rx illustrated in FIG. 22A. Forexample, a game region R may be set as the game region Rx, in accordancewith the number of other game regions R which may be adjacent to thegame region R. In this case, for each game region R, the number of othergame regions R which may be adjacent to each game region R may becalculated, and the first predetermined point value may be given a valuedepending on the calculated value that may be associated with each gameregion R. That is, in a case where one other game region R may beadjacent to a game region Rx, the first predetermined point value may be100 points, for the game region Rx. In a case where two other gameregions R may be adjacent to a game region Rx, the first predeterminedpoint value may be 50 points, for the game region Rx. The firstpredetermined point value associated with a game region Rx may becalculated by a predetermined calculation expression (for example,100/(the number of other game regions R which may be adjacent to thegame region Rx)).

Thus, it may be possible to provide a game in which stimulation may beperformed such that a case where game region R having a high probabilityof being included in the predetermined arrangement may be designated bya player occurs relatively frequently, and in which forming apoint-change target region or predetermined arrangement may be promoted,and an occurrence of stalemate may be difficult. It may be possible toprevent an occurrence of a situation in which a player having the ownedpoint of a value larger than that of other players correlates a largeamount of region points with a game region Rx, in advance, and toprevent reduction of the will of other players to continue the game. Thegame region Rx may be an example of a first specific region.

In the example of the game field F illustrated in FIG. 22A, a conditionrelating to the upper limit of the region point correlated with the gameregion Rx by a player may be associated with the game region Rx, as thepredetermined designation condition. For example, in the game regioninformation of the game field table, a second predetermined point valuemay be associated and stored in correlation with the region ID of thegame region Rx. In a case where the game region R designated by a playeroperating an input unit 23 may be the game region Rx, the inputprocessing unit 252 may control correlation of the region point, so asto cause the summation value of region points of players, which may becorrelated with the game region Rx, not to exceed the secondpredetermined point value. For example, in a case where designation ofthe game region Rx may be received, if it may be determined that thesummation value of region points of players, which may be correlatedwith the game region Rx exceeds the second predetermined point value,the input processing unit 252 may cancel the received designation input.

Thus, it may be possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation inwhich a player correlates a large amount of region points with a gameregion Rx, in advance, which may help to prevent other players fromlosing the will to continue the game.

Modification Example 2

The progress control unit 331 in the server 3 may change the game fieldF displayed by display data transmitted to the portable terminals 2, inaccordance with the progress of the game.

FIG. 22B may be a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the gamefield F used in the game.

In the example of the game field F illustrated in FIG. 22B, a restrictedregion Rt may be disposed in the game field F. It may not be possiblefor a player to designate the restricted region Rt at a time of startingthe game. In a case where the restricted region Rt may be included inthe game field F, the display processing unit 251 in the portableterminal 2 generally does not display the restricted region Rt, and butdisplays only game regions R included in the game field F.

Then, the progress control unit 331 in the server 3 may determinewhether or not a predetermined game-field change condition may besatisfied, in accordance with game region designation of a player whoparticipates in the game. Then, in a case where the predeterminedgame-field change condition is satisfied, the progress control unit 331may change some of the restricted regions Rt to game regions R, and maycreate display data for displaying a game screen including a game fieldF which may include the changed game region R. The progress control unit331 may transmit the created display data to the portable terminal 2.

For example, the predetermined game-field change condition maycorrespond to a case where the number of times of performing a series ofprocesses in which all players participating in the game performs aninput operation in an input operation order exceeds the predeterminednumber, or to a case where a region point may be correlated with aspecific game region (game region and the like which may be adjacent tothe restricted region Rt) by a player. The predetermined game-fieldchange condition may correspond to a case where the number of gameregions R correlated with a region point by all players participating inthe game or by a specific player exceeds the predetermined number ofregions, a case where the summation value of region points correlatedwith all or some of game region R among the game regions R correlatedwith region points exceeds a third predetermined point value, or a casewhere a predetermined period elapses from when the game may be started.

The game field F may not be limited to the example illustrated in FIG.22B. For example, the game field F may include a first sub-game fieldF1, a second sub-game field F2, and a restricted region Rt. The firstsub-game field F1 may include a plurality of first game regions R1. Thesecond sub-game field F2 may include a plurality of second game regionsR2. The restricted region Rt may be disposed between the first sub-gamefield F1 and the second sub-game field F2. In this case, if therestricted region Rt may be changed to a game region R, the restrictedregion Rt may be disposed on a game field F so as to cause the firstsub-game field F1 and the second sub-game field F2 to form one gamefield F.

In a case where the above-described predetermined game-field changecondition is satisfied, the progress control unit 331 may change thepredetermined game region R to the restricted region Rt. In this case,in a case where the predetermined game-field change condition may besatisfied, the progress control unit 331 may change at least some of thegame regions R to restricted regions Rt, and may create display data fordisplaying a game screen including a game field F which may include thechanged game region R. The progress control unit 331 may transmit thecreated display data to the portable terminal 2. The restricted regionRt may be displayed so as to be visually recognizable or not to bevisually recognizable. In a case where a region point may be correlatedwith the game region R which has been changed to the restricted regionRt, the correlated region point may be included in the owned point of aplayer who correlates the region point.

In a case where the above-described predetermined game-field changecondition is satisfied, the progress control unit 331 may change thepredetermined game region R to an undesignatable region Ro. Theundesignatable region Ro may be a game region in which it may not bepossible that a player correlates a region point, and a game regionwhich does not function as the point-change target region. In a casewhere a region point may be correlated with a game region R which hasbeen changed to the undesignatable region Ro, the correlated regionpoint may be maintained without being changed. The region pointcorrelated with the undesignatable region Ro may be used in the progressof the game (for example, determination of win or lose of the game),similarly to a region point correlated with a general game region R. Anundesignatable period in which the predetermined game region R may bechanged to the undesignatable region Ro may be set in the game system 1.In this case, if a predetermined undesignatable period elapses from whenthe predetermined game region R may be changed to the undesignatableregion Ro, the undesignatable region Ro may be brought back into a gameregion R.

With the above descriptions, it may be possible to provide a gamerequiring further strategy from a player, in that a game region R onwhich play can occur may be selected and periodically updated, while thechange of the game field F may be predicted. In addition, it may bepossible to provide a game in which a player may be prevented, inadvance, from associating a large amount of region points with a gameregion Rx, and in which an a stalemate may be unlikely to occur.

Modification Example 3

In the embodiment, each of a plurality of players may be able todesignate a game region R at any time during the operable periodcorresponding to the player. However, a period or a timing when a playercan designate a game region R may not be limited to the operable period.For example, control may be performed such that a timing when a playercan designate a game region R has a predetermined time interval, in aperiod from a start of the game to an end of the game. That is, a playercan designate the next game region R after a predetermined time intervalfrom a timing when at least some of the owned points of the player maybe correlated with a game region R. In this case, the predetermined timeinterval may be changed in accordance with the size of the points valueof region points associated with a game region R by the player. Forexample, control may be performed such that the predetermined timeinterval becomes longer as the value of the point which has beencorrelated as a region point, with a game region R by a player. Thus, itmay be possible to cause region points which can be correlated with gameregions R by each player to be uniform. In addition, an occurrence of asituation in which a player who has a large amount of the owned pointmay be too advantageous may be prevented, and thus it may be possible tomaintain the will of a player to continue the game even when that playerdoes not have a large amount of the owned points, to continue the game.It may be possible to provide a game in which considering the amount ofa region point correlated with a game region R by a player and anoperable period of the player, in accordance with an action of a playeras the competition opponent may be required, and strategiccharacteristics may be required.

Modification Example 4

The game system 1 may progress a game in which game regions included inthe game field F may be respectively designated by a plurality ofplayers and thus the game regions R may be correlated with groups towhich the plurality of players belongs.

FIG. 23 may be a diagram illustrating another example of the schematicconfiguration of the game system 1. As an example, a game in which aplurality of groups (group G1, group G2, and group G3) to which playersparticipating in the game belong may be correlated with a game region Rwill be described below.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, a correlation game such as a domination game,in which a game field F including a plurality of game regions R may bedisplayed in portable terminals 2 of players who participate in the gameand belong to a group G1, a group G2, and a group G3, and the displayedgame field F may be used may proceed by the portable terminal 2 and theserver 3 constituting the game system 1.

Each of a plurality of players participating in the game may designate agame region R included in the displayed game field F, in an inputoperation order. The input operation order may be correlated with thegroup. For example, in a case where the first in the input operationorder may be the group G1, each of players belonging to the group G1 maydesignate a game region R in the operable period of the first in theinput operation order. Similarly, in a case where the second in theinput operation order may be the group G2, each of the players belongingto the group G2 may designate a game region R in the operable period ofthe second in the input operation order.

Then, the server 3 may receive input data from the portable terminal 2of a player belonging to each group in the input operation order, wheneach operable period in the input operation order may be ended. Eachgroup in the input operation order may be an example of a first group.The server 3 may calculate the summation value of region pointscorrelated by players belonging to a group in each of a plurality ofgame regions R, and may correlate the calculated summation value of eachof the game regions, as a game point of the group in each of the gameregions.

The server 3 sets each of the plurality of game regions R, as acorresponding region of the group, which may be correlated with a regionpoint of a value which may be the largest among region points correlatedwith the game region R.

The server 3 may specify another corresponding region Ra1 of the group,which has been previously set, and may be different from thecorresponding region Ra2 of the group, which may be set this time in theinput operation order. Then, the server 3 may determine whether or notone or a plurality of game regions R may be disposed between thecorresponding region Ra2 of the group, which has been set, and thespecified other corresponding region Rat of the group, in predeterminedarrangement.

In a case where it may be determined that one or the plurality of gameregions R may be disposed in the predetermined arrangement, the server 3may determine whether or not all of the determined game regions R may becorresponding regions of another group which may be different from thegroup of this time in the input operation order. Then, in a case whereit may be determined that all of the game regions R disposed in thepredetermined arrangement may be the corresponding regions of anothergroup, the server 3 may extract a region point of the group of this timein the input operation order, which may be correlated with the gameregion R disposed in the predetermined arrangement, and may extract aregion point of another group which has the game region R disposed inthe predetermined arrangement, as the corresponding region.

The server 3 may replace the extracted region point of the group of thistime in the input operation order with the extracted region point ofanother group, and may store the region points replaced with each other.

In this manner, in a game in which the region-point changing processingmay be performed, it may be possible to execute a competition betweengroups to which a plurality of players belongs, and to improve moreinterest for the game. Each player belonging to a group has a need toprogress the game in cooperation with other players belonging to thegroup, and thus it may be possible to further promote cooperation in thegroup. In the embodiment and other modification examples, the regionpoint and the corresponding region may be set for each group, and theregion-point changing processing may be performed for each group.

A player belonging to each group may correlate a region point with agame region R, in accordance with an operation condition which has beenset for each group. For example, the operation condition may correspondto a case where the summation of region points which can be correlatedwith a game region R by players belonging to each group, in eachoperable period, may be equal to or less than the predetermined firstconditional value. Additionally or alternatively, the operationcondition may correspond to a case where the summation of the number ofgame regions R which can be correlated with region points by playersbelonging to each group, in each operable period, may be equal to orless than the predetermined second conditional value.

For example, in a case where the first conditional value may be 1000points, if the summation value of region points correlated by allplayers belonging to each group reaches 1000 points in the operableperiod of each group, it may not be possible that the player belongingto the group correlates a region point with a game region R until thenext operable period. In a case where the second conditional value maybe 50 pieces, if the summation value of the number of game regions Rcorrelated by all players belonging to each group reaches 50 pieces inthe operable period of each group, it may not be possible that theplayer belonging to the group correlates a region point with a gameregion R until the next operable period.

The operation condition may correspond to a case where the summation ofregion points which can be correlated with a game region R by playersbelonging to each group, for a period from a start of the game to an endof the game, may be equal to or less than a third predeterminedconditional value. Additionally or alternatively, the operationcondition may correspond to a case where the summation of the number ofgame regions R which can be correlated with a region point by a playersbelonging to each group for a period from a start of the game to an endof the game may be equal to or less than a fourth predeterminedconditional value, and the like. The first conditional value, the secondconditional value, the third conditional value, and the fourthconditional value may vary for each group.

Thus, each player belonging to a group has a need to progress the gamein cooperation with other players belonging to the group, and thus itmay be possible to further promote cooperation in the group.

Modification Example 5

The progress control unit 331 in the server 3 may associate each playerwith a player reward in accordance with the region point correlated witha game region R by each player participating in the game. The playerreward may be game content, an item, virtual currency, or the like whichmay be used in another game, another event, and the like.

For example, the progress control unit 331 may store a region pointincluded in the input data transmitted by each player, in the serverstorage unit 32. When the game may be ended, the progress control unit331 calculates the summation value of the region points of the player,which have been stored in the server storage unit 32. The player rewarddepending on the calculated summation value may be stored in the serverstorage unit 32 in association with each player. The summation value maybe a summation value of region points for corresponding regions of eachplayer when the game may be ended.

The progress control unit 331 may associate the group reward with eachplayer, in accordance with the region point correlated with thecorresponding region of a group to which each of players participatingin the game belongs. The group reward may be game content, an item,virtual currency, or the like which may be used in another game, anotherevent, and the like. The group reward may be different from the playerreward.

For example, when the game may be ended, the progress control unit 331may calculate the summation value of the region points correlated withthe corresponding regions of each player, which have been stored in theserver storage unit 32, for each group. The group reward depending onthe calculated summation value of the region points of each group may bestored in the server storage unit 32 in association with each playerbelonging to each group. The summation value may be a summation value ofthe region points correlated with the corresponding regions of a groupto which each of the players belongs, or be a summation value of theregion points of each group, which may be correlated with game regions Rby each of the players participating in the game, in the middle ofexecuting the game.

Thus, in a group competition in the correlation game such as adomination game, it may be possible to obtain a reward depending on anindividual record or a reward depending on the degree of the groupparticipating in the game, in addition to a competition result. Thus, itmay be possible to further improve player interest in the game. Becauseeach player participates in the game while simultaneously having toconsider a strategy for improving an individual record and a strategyfor improving a group record, players' interest may be held for longerand the game may be vitalized.

Modification Example 6

The corresponding region R of a player may be displayed based onpredetermined color information associated with the player. However, thepredetermined color information may be changed in accordance with theregion point of the player, which may be correlated with thecorresponding region R, and the corresponding region R may be displayedbased on the changed color information. For example, the progresscontrol unit 331 in the server 3 may specify predetermined colorinformation associated with a player. The progress control unit 331changes brightness, chroma, or hue in the predetermined colorinformation in accordance with the region point of the player, which maybe correlated with the corresponding region R of the player. Theprogress control unit 331 may create display data for displaying a gamescreen including the game field F which may include the correspondingregion R, based on the changed color information.

In the corresponding region R of a player, the predetermined colorinformation associated with the player may be changed in accordance withthe region point of another player, which may be correlated with thecorresponding region R. The corresponding region R may be displayedbased on the changed color information.

In the corresponding region R of a player, predetermined colorinformation associated with the player may be changed in accordance withthe region point of the player, which may be correlated with thecorresponding region R and the region point of another player. Thecorresponding region R may be displayed based on the changed colorinformation. For example, a relative point such as a different valuebetween the region point of the player and the region point of anotherplayer may be calculated, and predetermined color information may bechanged in accordance with the calculated relative point.

Thus, it may be possible to easily visually recognize a region pointcorrelated with a corresponding region R by a player and/or otherplayers, and to determine a game region which may be immediatelycorrelated by the player.

In the portable terminal 2 held by a player, a corresponding region R ofthe player may be displayed based on first color information, andcorresponding regions R of all other players except for the player maybe displayed based on second color information. Thus, the player canimmediately distinguish the own corresponding region R fromcorresponding regions R of other players except for the player. Theportable terminal 2 held by a player may have a function of performingswitching between display of a corresponding region based on colorinformation associated with each of a plurality of players, and displayof corresponding regions based on first color information for the playerand second color information for all other players. Thus, it may bepossible to display a corresponding region in a display form desired bya player.

Modification Example 7

In a case where a predetermined period elapses from a start of the game,the progress control unit 331 in the server 3 may end the game. In acase where the summation value of region points correlated with a gameregion by players participating in the game exceeds a predeterminedvalue, the progress control unit 331 may end the game.

Thus, the game may be ended at a timing which may not be expected by aplayer, and thus it may be possible to provide a game further requiringa strategy of a player.

Modification Example 8

The above-described functions of the server processing unit 33 may beexecuted in the processing unit 25 in the portable terminal 2. In thiscase, if various tables may be stored in the storage unit 22, it may notbe necessary that a communication with the server 3 may be performedevery time processing may be performed, and the above functions can berealized only by the portable terminal 2. The game executed in theportable terminal 2 may be a hybrid-game in which the server 3 and theportable terminal 2 handle a portion of the processing. In this case,for example, web display and a native display may be provided. In theweb display, the game screen relating to the progress of the game may bedisplayed in the portable terminal 2 based on display data generated bythe server 3. In the native display, others of a menu screen and thelike may be displayed by a native application which may be installed onthe portable terminal 2.

Modification Example 9

The game system 1 may have a configuration of including only a pluralityof portable terminals 2 which may be respectively operated by aplurality of players. Each of the plurality of portable terminals 2 mayperform wireless communication with other portable terminals 2 by awireless communication scheme of the IEEE802.11 standards. The pluralityof portable terminals 2 may constitute an ad hoc network. In this case,a specific portable terminal 2 among the plurality of portable terminals2 may function as a host, and may execute the above-described functionsof the server 3. A portable terminal 2 other than the specific portableterminal 2 among the plurality of portable terminals 2 may communicatewith the specific portable terminal 2 that executes the functions of theserver 3, and thus the above-described game may be executed. Thespecific portable terminal 2 functioning as the host may execute both ofthe functions of the server 3 and the functions of the portable terminal2.

The skilled person of the related art can understand that variouschanges, substitutions, and modifications may be added without departingfrom the gist and the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumcomprising program code that, when executed, causes a game deviceincluding a storage unit to execute steps comprising progressing a gamein which a player and one or more opponents participate, the gamecomprising a game field including a plurality of game regions eachassociated with a plurality of placements provided in a placement order,wherein, for each game region in the plurality of game regions, each ofthe player and the one or more opponents is associated with a uniqueplacement for said game region, wherein progressing a game comprisesexecuting steps of: receiving a request of the player, and, based on therequest, determining whether to adjust a placement of the player in theplacement order for a first region, and adjusting the placement of theplayer and setting the first game region to be a region of the player;identifying one or more game regions disposed in a predeterminedarrangement between the first game region set to be a region of theplayer and a second game region of the player, and, when all of the oneor more game regions disposed between the first game region and thesecond game region in the predetermined arrangement are regions of anopponent in the one or more opponents, performing the steps of: for eachgame region in the one or more game regions disposed between the firstgame region and the second game region in the predetermined arrangement,swapping a position of the first player in the placement order and aposition of an owning player in the placement order, and setting thegame region in the one or more game regions to be a region of the firstplayer.
 2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according toclaim 1, wherein the placement of the player in the placement order forthe first region is based on a comparison of a player point value of theplayer and one or more opponent point values associated with each of theone or more opponents.
 3. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumaccording to claim 2, wherein the request of the player comprises anadjustment to the player point value of the player.
 4. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2, wherein atleast one of the one or more opponent point values is
 0. 5. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, whereinthe game field is a two-dimensional field, and wherein each of theplurality of game regions is associated with a set of two-dimensionalcoordinates on the two-dimensional field.
 6. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium according to claim 5, wherein the predeterminedarrangement comprises a predetermined shape on the two-dimensionalfield, and wherein identifying the one or more game regions disposed inthe predetermined arrangement comprises identifying one or more gameregions matching the predetermined shape.
 7. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium according to claim 6, wherein the predeterminedshape is one of: a straight line, a polygonal line, and a curved line.8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1,wherein the game device is further configured to perform steps of:changing color information comprising at least one of brightness,chroma, or hue of the first region to changed color informationassociated with the player, based on the request of the player, anddisplaying the region with the changed color information.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein aplayer point value of the player and one or more opponent point valuesassociated with each of the one or more opponents are associated withthe region; and wherein changing the color information comprising the atleast one of the brightness, chroma, or hue to changed color informationassociated with the player is based on a magnitude of a relativedifference between the player point value and the one or more opponentpoint values associated with the region.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein a plurality ofinstances of color information are associated with the player, each ofthe instances of color information associated with a different magnitudeof the relative difference.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium according to claim 1, wherein the game field includes arestricted region, and wherein the game is configured to preventdesignation of the restricted region by the player in an initial state;and wherein the game device is further configured to perform a step ofchanging the restricted region to a game region based on the request ofthe player.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according toclaim 11, wherein the step of changing the restricted region to the gameregion based on the request of the player comprises one of: counting atotal number of requests of the player and each opponent in the one ormore opponents, counting a total number of game regions in the pluralityof game regions having a particular property, and counting at least oneplayer point value or at least one opponent point value.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, whereinthe game device is further configured to change a game region in theplurality of game regions to a restricted region based on the request ofthe player, and prevent a further request designating the restrictedregion while the restricted region is in a restricted state.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein astep of changing the game region in the plurality of game regions to therestricted region further comprises maintaining placement orderinformation for the restricted region.
 15. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the game deviceis further configured to remove the restricted state of the restrictedregion after expiration of a predetermined undesignatable period. 16.The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13,wherein the game device is further configured to change displayinformation of the game region in the plurality of game regions uponchanging said game region to the restricted game region.
 17. A controlmethod which is configured to be executed by a game device whichincludes a storage unit and which is configured to progress a game inwhich a player and one or more opponents participate, the gamecomprising a game field including a plurality of game regions eachassociated with a plurality of placements provided in a placement order,wherein, for each game region in the plurality of game regions, each ofthe player and the one or more opponents is associated with a uniqueplacement for said game region, said method comprising executing stepsof: receiving a request of the player, and, based on the request,determining whether to adjust a placement of the player in the placementorder for a first region, and adjusting the placement of the player andsetting the first game region to be a region of the player; identifyingone or more game regions disposed in a predetermined arrangement betweenthe first game region set to be a region of the player and a second gameregion of the player, and, when all of the one or more game regionsdisposed between the first game region and the second game region in thepredetermined arrangement are regions of an opponent in the one or moreopponents, performing steps of: for each game region in the one or moregame regions disposed between the first game region and the second gameregion in the predetermined arrangement, swapping a position of thefirst player in the placement order and a position of an owning playerin the placement order, and setting the game region in the one or moregame regions to be a region of the first player.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 17, wherein the game field is a two-dimensionalfield, wherein each of the plurality of game regions is associated witha set of two-dimensional coordinates on the two-dimensional field, andwherein the predetermined arrangement comprises a predetermined shape onthe two-dimensional field.
 19. A game device which is configured toprogress a game by using a game field including a plurality of gameregions, the game device comprising: a storage unit configured to storethe plurality of game regions and a plurality of placements provided ina placement order that are associated with each of the plurality of gameregions, wherein, for each game region in the plurality of game regions,each of the player and the one or more opponents is associated with aunique placement for said game region; an input unit configured toreceive, from the player, a request, whereby, based on the request, thegame device is configured to determine whether to adjust a placement ofthe player in the placement order for a first region, and adjust theplacement of the player and setting the first game region to be a regionof the player; and a display unit; whereby the game device is furtherconfigured to identify one or more game regions disposed in apredetermined arrangement between the first game region set to be aregion of the player and a second game region of the player, and, whenall of the one or more game regions disposed between the first gameregion and the second game region in the predetermined arrangement areregions of an opponent in the one or more opponents, perform steps of:for each game region in the one or more game regions disposed betweenthe first game region and the second game region in the predeterminedarrangement, swapping a position of the first player in the placementorder and a position of an owning player in the placement order, settingthe game region in the one or more game regions to be a region of thefirst player, and updating a display of the display unit.
 20. The gamedevice according to claim 19, wherein the game field is atwo-dimensional field, wherein each of the plurality of game regions isassociated with a set of two-dimensional coordinates on thetwo-dimensional field, and wherein the predetermined arrangementcomprises a predetermined shape on the two-dimensional field.